THE newly-appointed health minister has admitted he feels “daunted” by the big issues he will face in the cabinet role.

Professor Mark Drakeford – who was sworn in on Monday after landing the role in a surprise cabinet reshuffle last week – said his job was to oversee controversial reforms to the NHS across the country.

The decision about whether to downgrade accident and emergency, maternity and children’s wards at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend could land on the Cardiff West AM’s desk.

“I feel honoured to be asked to do the job,” he said.

“I would not be human if I did not feel a little bit daunted as well, but I am looking forward to getting on with it.

“There are the reconfigurations that are going on across Wales and I will be looking very carefully at what has happened so far.

“My job is to see the process through and bring it to a conclusion. That is a high priority.

“It’s a very difficult message to get across.

“People now need to know what the end of this is going to be. Not everybody will be happy with the final decisions but it’s important they have that understanding.

“There’s a very active legislative programme.”

Prof Drakeford also reiterated his predecessor Lesley Griffiths’ warnings to health boards that they must break even as the financial year draws to a close.

“We’re right at the end of the financial year – with a few days to go,” he said. “But I will be more concerned to look at what happens next year.

“I will be wanting to look at the way that the money is used and the processes in the health service, but I am still very new to that.”